SpaceX

[Patrick AL]

Launch license issued:

https://www.faa.gov/media/69476

Now just a question of weather.

[Chalkie]

Now to see which livestream is best... Everyday Astronaut goes live 12:00B.

Where do I find livestream on X? Search for Spacex IFT 3 in X, results in lots of chatter, no link to livestream.

[bladerunner]

Where do I find livestream on X? Search for Spacex IFT 3 in X, results in lots of chatter, no link to livestream.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission ... p-flight-3

Looks like it will start @ 13:30 SA time.

[heisan]

Ice Ice Baby

Propellant loading! Seems to be on schedule for 15h25 launch.

[heisan]

SpaceX coverage now live:

https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1LyxBnOvzvOxN

[stojan]

WOW that was too awesome for words....and is still going Is there a way to track where it is currently? On a map/globe?

[Chalkie]

All in all an awesome demonstration of massive improvements, leaps and strides ahead of IFT2. 13 engines for booster boost-back burn then three lit up but only 1 continued to run during the slow down / landing phase...

Unfortunately SS seems to have failed on re entry, I wonder if the cargo bay door that did not close properly, if it compromised the structural integrity? (It seems to pop out of the tracks at T +30:18 )

SpaceX said they lost 2 different communication systems at the same time which they seem to think indicates loss of the vehicle.

Looking at the booster, landing phase videos. Imagine a 9m diameter butt end of the rocket descending, exhaust pipes first and going trans sonic in the slowdown. The shock waves must be enormous, hence the rapid movement of the grid fins... I guess we will have to wait for Zak of CSI Starbase to do a deep dive into that one.

[Chalkie]

Report from Scott Manley, seems the SS also entered the atmosphere tail first and not belly first...

[heisan]

Yup. Was a really impressive launch. Primary objectives achieved, and most secondary objectives achieved.

But, there are still major issues. My guess is that the grid fins were sticking (look at the way they start jerking), and they lost control of the booster. Rapid rotation probably created too much fuel slosh for the engines to relight (any gas bubble in the fuel line, and a raptor pretty much goes boom).

For the ship, it clearly had no RCS authority for the last half of the flight. My guess would be that they got some liquid fuel in the RCS system, which froze (see the ice flying off the first time the front flap moves).

[Chalkie]

On a side not, it looks like, as-is, if they used starship as a non-reusable launch vehicle, they could put 3x the payload of SLS into orbit for 1/20 the cost...

[Chalkie]

On a side not, it looks like, as-is, if they used starship as a non-reusable launch vehicle, they could put 3x the payload of SLS into orbit for 1/20 the cost...

... and do away with all the time, trouble and expense of fitting 40 000 TPS Tiles

Makes you think, doesn't it...

[heisan]

On a side not, it looks like, as-is, if they used starship as a non-reusable launch vehicle, they could put 3x the payload of SLS into orbit for 1/20 the cost...

... and do away with all the time, trouble and expense of fitting 40 000 TPS Tiles

Makes you think, doesn't it...

Yep - but SpaceX's ultimate aim requires far cheaper than 1/20 the cost. Fully reusable, starship should have about 3x the payload of SLS, but 1/2000 the cost.

[Chalkie]

Yup. Was a really impressive launch. Primary objectives achieved, and most secondary objectives achieved.

But, there are still major issues. My guess is that the grid fins were sticking (look at the way they start jerking), and they lost control of the booster. Rapid rotation probably created too much fuel slosh for the engines to relight (any gas bubble in the fuel line, and a raptor pretty much goes boom).

For the ship, it clearly had no RCS authority for the last half of the flight. My guess would be that they got some liquid fuel in the RCS system, which froze (see the ice flying off the first time the front flap moves).

I doubt the grid fins were sticking, they use Tesla electric motors and are capable of moving fast, software can be tweaked to slow down movement, but I think it was the Mach shockwaves judging by how the grid fins vibrated. The trouble starts as they decelerate below 2000km/h and they lose control at about 1000km/h.

One of the early interviews of Everyday Astronaut, Tim Dodds asks Elon that if they were venting the fuel tanks as the cryogenic fuel warmed up, 'why not use the vented fuel for control purposes.' Elon was bemused... evidently this is what SpaceX tried, and even Tim during his broadcast of ITF3, said that he wondered if the vents iced up and ended up sending the jet of cold air in the wrong direction? Some wags are now saying that Tim Dodds is indirectly responsible for the loss of control...

"The best part is no part" to quote Elon, but perhaps now they will need to add some tried and tested hot or cold gas, thrust control system.

[Patrick AL]

Yup. Was a really impressive launch. Primary objectives achieved, and most secondary objectives achieved.

But, there are still major issues. My guess is that the grid fins were sticking (look at the way they start jerking), and they lost control of the booster. Rapid rotation probably created too much fuel slosh for the engines to relight (any gas bubble in the fuel line, and a raptor pretty much goes boom).

For the ship, it clearly had no RCS authority for the last half of the flight. My guess would be that they got some liquid fuel in the RCS system, which froze (see the ice flying off the first time the front flap moves).

I doubt the grid fins were sticking, they use Tesla electric motors and are capable of moving fast, software can be tweaked to slow down movement, but I think it was the Mach shockwaves judging by how the grid fins vibrated. The trouble starts as they decelerate below 2000km/h and they lose control at about 1000km/h.

One of the early interviews of Everyday Astronaut, Tim Dodds asks Elon that if they were venting the fuel tanks as the cryogenic fuel warmed up, 'why not use the vented fuel for control purposes.' Elon was bemused... evidently this is what SpaceX tried, and even Tim during his broadcast of ITF3, said that he wondered if the vents iced up and ended up sending the jet of cold air in the wrong direction? Some wags are now saying that Tim Dodds is indirectly responsible for the loss of control...

"The best part is no part" to quote Elon, but perhaps now they will need to add some tried and tested hot or cold gas, thrust control system.

that 'Space Cadet' Tim ,- must be totally ---- and rapidly disassembled, unscheduled! - by the speculation!

He is a fantastic reporter to all things space

Great to watch his presentations on rocket dynamics and rocketry in general.
-and his interviews of Elon and walkthroughs of Space X facilities are fantastic.

And Tim was selected to be a lucky passenger on the first private Dragon Mission-to-be ---which has been bought by a rich industrialist

I remember that discussion - bemused, but also intrigued, is how Elon had looked -and would be a great feather-in-the-cap for Tim if indeed his idea saw use and test!

[GrahamW]

When they were developing the F9 it also took them several flights to nail the landing. They had to collect data and itterate untill they nailed it so we will probably see several more RUD's